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(ModL) J. ow. T. HILL.

-M a,ohino for Coloring and Flavoring Cigars.

No. 239,780. Patented April 5,1881.'

N-FEIERS, FHOTO-UTNOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON, Dr C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMESTpHILL AND WALTER T. BILL, OF CUMBERLAND, 'MD., ASSIGNORS OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM ENTLER, OF PIEDMONT, W. VA.

MACHINE FOR- COLORING AND FLAVORlNG CIGARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,780, dated April 5, 1881.

Application filed February 10, 1881.

To all whom "it may concern Be it known that we, JAMES T. HILLand WALTER T. HILL, of Cumberland, in the county of Alleghany and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Applying Coloring and Flavorin g Matter to Cigars; and we do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being h ad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

This invention relates to machines employed for coloring or coloring and flavoring cigars.

The improvement relates to means for feedin g the cigars through a sponge saturated with the coloring or flavoring liquid, and also to the arrangement of the sponge with an oblique passage through the same, as will be more fully set forth in the following description.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top or plan view of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of the sponge-casing and its attachments. Fig. 4 is a section through the sponge-casing and sponge, taken on a plane indicated by the dotted line :r m, Fig. 3.

Let A indicate the base, upon which are secured two standards, B B, in the upper ends of which is journaled a shaft, C, carrying at one end a crank, C, having a handle, C and at its other end carrying a crank, D, the wristpin d of which works in a slotted cross-head, E, ofa push or piston rod, E. The cross-head of this push or piston rod rests at its lower end upon the base A, or upon any suitable surface over which it will slide easily, and is guided in its reciprocations by means of the guides F, which are arranged to form a way for the travel of the cross-head. The outer end of the rod E works through and is supported by a vertical standard, G, arranged adjacent to an inclined table, H, upon which the cigars are placed preparatory to the staining or flavoring process.

The table H is supported upon suitable legs h, and is inclined downward toward the line of travel of the piston-rod E. The table is also formed with a curved lip or flange, h, to hold the layer of cigars upon the table and to bring (ModeL) the lowest cigar in the layer just in line with the piston-rod.

I indicates the sponge-holder, which consists of a cylindrical casing having openings 6 formed through its sides, said casin g being supported upon suitable legs. The cylindrical sponge K, which is arranged within this casin g, is provided with a passage, K, which runs obliquel y to the axial line of the cylinder.

A reservoir, L, for containing the liquid, is supported in any convenient way above the sponge-casing, and a pipe, L, extends from the reservoir to a funnel, M, at the top of the spongecasing, in order to convey a supply of the liquid to the sponge. This pipe may be provided with a stop-cock, so that the flow of the liquid can be checked when desired.

N designates a table arranged at one side of the sponge-casing to catch the cigars which have been forced through the sponge. In operatingthis machine the reservoir is supplied with some liquid suitable for coloring or for coloring and flavoring the cigars, and a quantity of cigars are laid in a layer upon the inclined table H. The piston or push rod is then impelled forward by operating the crankhandle, and the lowest cigar of the layer is thereby forced through the oblique passage in the sponge, whence it passes out and is caught upon the table N. The sponge being saturated with the fluid will cause the entire surface of the cigar to be colored or colored and flavored, and by reason of the oblique passage through the sponge the latter will be more effectually compressed than if the passage were formed in the axial line of the cylinder, and by reason of such compression the liquid will be squeezed out upon the cigar. After the piston-rod has been retracted a fresh cigar will roll down into line therewith, so as to admit of a repetition of the former operation.

Other absorbentmaterial than sponge might be employed, although we prefer the latter.-

By means of this machine cigars can be colored or flavored ina rapid and effective manner.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is---- 1. In a cigar-coloring machine, the combination, with a sponge provided with a central passage, of an inclined table for holding the cigars to be colored, and a reciprocating piston with asuitable passage for cigars, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the reservoir for containing the coloring-liquid, of a casing inclosing a cylindrical sponge provided with an opening through its center, a table for holding the cigars to be colored, and a reciprocating piston for pushing the cigars through the saturated sponge, the said sponge-casing being provided with openings corresponding with the orifices ot' the passage through the sponge, substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands this 29th day of January, 1881.

JAMES T. HILL. WALTER T. HILL. Witnesses G. A. NEALE, H. AUBREY ToULMIN. 

